Resolution to provide city services to quarry property heads to Marion City Council

MARION – Marion City Council will consider a resolution agreeing to provide fire and police protection, zoning and other city services to the National Lime & Stone property north of the city following a vote of council’s zoning and annexation committee Tuesday night.

Mayor Scott Schertzer prefaced discussion of the resolution, noting that it was the second of a several-step process that is required for an applicant seeking annexation to the city.

The company, whose main office is on Likens Road, asked in late 2012 to be annexed, prompting opposition from residents of a subdivision bordering the west side of the 224-acre property. They’ve attended several council meetings, saying the company’s blasting and mining operations cause noise pollution, and some contending vibrations from the operation have shifted their wells or cracked the foundations of their homes.

Two residents of the residential subdivision voiced their opposition to the company running its crushing machine at night and raised other concerns.

Councilman John Smith, chairman for the zoning and annexation committee, attempted to limit discussion to the city’s providing of services to the property, saying residents would have several opportunities to raise other issues at future committee meetings and, potentially, public hearings.

Dan Mapes, director of safety and environmental at National, said the company made a corporate decision to do all of its maintenance during the day for safety reasons, leaving the night for operation of the crushing machine.

National produces crushed stone, sand and gravel and mineral products and sought to expand its operations, but progress was postponed while the company hired an acoustical engineer to do sound tests. On the north side of the company’s property is Linn-Hipsher Road, on the east is U.S. 23.